Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Korea to ban smoking near kindergartens, schools
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By Lee Hae-rin
Korea is banning smoking within 30 meters of day care centers, kindergartens and elementary, middle and high schools starting Saturday, the government announced Thursday.
Previously, non-smoking areas were designated as within 10 meters of day care centers and kindergartens. However, they were expanded to 30 meters under the revision of the National Health Promotion Act and 30 meters around schools were newly designated under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Violators will face fines of up to 100,000 won ($73), according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The expansion and establishment of non-smoking areas near education facilities will be implemented after a one-year grace period to protect children and adolescents from secondhand smoke.
Under the measure, each city, county and district should install signs on the walls and surrounding sidewalks to indicate the 30-meter boundary of no-smoking zones around day care centers, kindergartens and elementary, middle and high school facilities.
The health ministry and the Korea Health Promotion Development Institute plan to produce promotional materials such as posters and banners and distribute them to local governments for public promotion.
“The expansion of non-smoking areas around educational facilities is necessary to protect the health of children and adolescents vulnerable to secondhand smoke,” said Baek Sung-taek, director of health policy at the health ministry. “We will continue to do our utmost to create a smoking-free environment in the community."